Streisand Biopic in the Works - Is Lea Michele in the Running?

In an interview with Backlot.com, the writing and producing team of David A. Lee and Daniel Vaillancourt revealed details about an upcoming planned Barbra Streisand biopic based on William J. Mann's 2012 unauthorized biography, 'Hello, Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand.' The duo recently optioned the motion picture rights to the book and have already written a spec script.

The biography focuses on the earlier years of Streisand's career, beginning in 1960 when she arrived in New York City as an Unknown 17-year-old. The story wraps up in 1964, the year that the mega-star was cast in Broadway's Funny Girl and launched her best-selling recording career.

Explains David A. Lee of the time period, "This is Barbra at her roots. Formulating her style, her persona...defining how she would defy the beauty conventions of the day. For those who may not know or may not remember, Barbra wanted to be an actress-not a singer. She stumbled onto the ways her voice could take her where she wanted to go."

Asked about their dream casting for the lead role, Lee revealed, "Obviously, casting the starring role is crucial-and difficult. We went to Lea Michele first, because it's such an obvious and commercial choice to us." He later adds, "I also think Lana Del Rey would kick some serious Babs butt."

Lee believes that taking on the lead role will be a career-changing event for some lucky actress. "The actress who plays Barbra will be nominated for awards. It could be real event television. Could HBO be interested in the wake of the Liberace biopic? We hope so."

Ponders Vaillancourt of the project, "What if we could interest an openly gay director who really is a Streisand fan, someone like Adam Shankman, to take it on? Adam Shankman directing Lea Michele or Lana Del Rey. And the movie produced by Neil Meron and Craig Zadan. There's a dream for you."

Read the interview in full here!